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Dr. Wettstein is happy to provide patients and visitors to the website with answers to some of your frequently asked questions about foot and ankle conditions and care. This page is updated regularly, so be sure to check back later!

We get the temptation. You have stubbed your toe something fierce, but don’t want it to interfere with your running. Is it safe to run with a broken toe, or a toe that has been injured in some other way?

If you suspect your toe may be broken, you will not want to perform any exercise that involves moving it until you have the opportunity to get it seen by a professional. Fractured bones in a toe, as with anywhere else in the body, can further shift and cause damage if they are moved or have additional forces placed on them.

This does not necessarily mean you must be laid up for the entirety of recovery, however. You can still initially perform some activities that do not place stress on your toe, and we will help you determine what kinds of exercises will be the best for you to perform as your toe heals. As your toe grows stronger, you may begin to gradually ease back into running—and it will also be important to perform stretches and specific exercises to further strengthen and stabilize your toe.

If you feel your toe is broken, you have no benefit in waiting. Give Advanced Foot and Ankle a Call at (208) 731-6321. Our offices in Twin Falls and Burley will help you get back to action as quickly and safely as possible.

Our feet are remarkably complex structures. Containing over one-quarter of all the bones in your body and more than 100 different muscles, tendons, and ligaments, there is certainly a lot of room for variance. Whereas the inherent foot structure is similar for most people, one of those areas of variance can be found in the height of your foot arches.

Before jumping into structural differences, it should be noted that we often refer to the “foot arch” in a fairly general sense, but there are actually three different arches—medial, lateral, and transverse—in each foot. When patients ask about the different types of foot arches, though, they are often looking to learn more about flat feet or cavus foot.

There are essentially three different types of varying foot arches – low, moderate, and high. Knowing these types, which kind you have, and how they affect the way your feet move are all important for both understanding common medical conditions and choosing shoes that are appropriate for the feet you have.

Moderate arches – This type of arch is the most biomechanically efficient, but individuals with moderate arches can still potentially develop common foot conditions like heel pain or ball-of-foot issues.

Low arches –These foot arches can be either flexible or rigid in nature, and they often cause overpronation. This biomechanical abnormality places feet at greater risk for bunions, plantar fasciitis, and other sources of heel pain.

High arches –Also known as cavus foot, this arch style is typically more rigid than the other types. With this particular structure, almost all of the force loads that come from walking, running, and jumping are absorbed by the forefoot and heel areas, instead of being distributed equitably across the foot.

For additional information on your feet and structural features—or to request an appointment for professional podiatric services—simply give us a call at (208) 731-6321 to connect with our Twin Falls office or (208) 312-4646 to reach our Burley office.

It might seem to be a daunting task to perform exercise and physical activity when you live with an arthritic condition, but we can walk you through how to exercise with arthritis.

The first step is to consult with Dr. Wettstein or your primary physician. We can help you create an exercise plan that works best for you. A solid plan will have exercises that strengthen muscles, promote range-of-motion, work the cardiovascular system, and improve flexibility.
Key points to protect your joints include:

Use low-impact activities.

Apply heat (warm towel, shower) before you exercise.

Move gently and use slow, easy motions.

Take a break if you feel pain.

Ice after you are done.

Given the tremendous benefits that can come with physical activity, you may find that an even better question is “how can I afford not to exercise with arthritis?” Let Advanced Foot and Ankle help you create an exercise program that is centered on the right kinds of activities and starts with low-to-moderate levels that will allow your body to properly adjust. Schedule an appointment online with either our Twin Falls or Burley, ID offices or simply call us at (208) 731-6321 for any assistance you might need.